Licenses Were Biggest Catches in National Fishing and Boating Week Prize Drawing

RALEIGH, N.C. (July 16, 2013) — The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, along with Neuse Sport Shop and the N.C. Council of Trout Unlimited, presented two young anglers with lifetime licenses and certificates at the agency’s business meeting in Raleigh on July 11.

Corey Buchanan, 9, received a lifetime sportsman/coastal recreational fishing license, and Jaimee Yankow, 9, received a freshwater fishing license. Both licenses were given away as part of a statewide drawing for participants in 39 kids’ “Fish for Fun” events, which were held in May and June in celebration of National Fishing and Boating Week 2013.

Corey, who is from Spruce Pine, is an avid outdoorsman who loves to hunt and fish, which is a good thing because his lifetime license, which was donated by Neuse Sport Shop and is valued at $450, gives him statewide hunting privileges, including hunting for big game, hunting on game lands and waterfowl hunting, as well as fishing privileges in all public waters from the mountains to the coast.

Corey participated in the June 1“Troutacular” fishing event in Spruce Pine and caught seven trout that day, not a bad feat for someone so young but a feat that’s not surprising either considering he cast his first line when he was only 3. One of his first fishing trips resulted in an unexpected trip to the emergency room after he hooked a spinner into the side of his head. Despite that unpleasant first experience, Corey goes fishing any chance he can get — he’s just more careful around hooks these days.

While he says he prefers to catch trout over any other fish, he loves to fish in saltwater because “you never know what you’re going to catch,” noting his most unusual catch to date was a stingray off the pier in Myrtle Beach. Corey also enjoys hunting and bagged an 8-point buck this past season while hunting with his dad Robert in Mitchell County.

Corey is a rising 4thgrader at Deyton Elementary in Spruce Pine. When he’s not fishing or hunting, Corey likes to ride motorcycles and four wheelers and he loves to swim.

Jaimee, who is from Jacksonville, hails from a family of fishing fanatics, so she expects to put her freshwater fishing license, which was donated by Trout Unlimited and is valued at $250, to good use once she turns 16. Her license gives her fishing privileges in all public, inland waters in North Carolina, including designated mountain trout waters, trout waters on game lands and joint waters.

Although Jaimee didn’t reel in any fish while participating in the June 8 Kids’ Fishing Derby at Jacksonville Training Academy, she does like to fish. Both of her parents, as well as her 13-year-old sister fish, so it’s no wonder that she took to the sport so easily, picking up her first rod and reel when she was only 6. She likes to catch bluegill and she cites as her favorite fishing excursion a recent camping trip where she caught lots of fish. She is a rising 4th grader at Southwest Elementary School in Jacksonville. When she’s not fishing, Jaimee likes to read, watch television and ride her bike.

In addition to Corey and Jaimee, 150 other young anglers won fishing prizes — from rods and reels and tackle boxes courtesy of Neuse Sport Shop to mini tackle boxes and fishing hand towels from the Wildlife Commission. Click here for a list of winners, as well as the prizes won. Names of winners are listed alphabetically by last name.

Since 2001, the Wildlife Commission, along with partners such as Neuse Sport Shop, N.C. Council of Trout Unlimited, and the U.S. Forest Service, has supported these free fishing events during National Fishing and Boating Week to promote fishing as a fun activity that the whole family can enjoy.

In addition to the fishing events held during National Fishing and Boating Week, the Commission supports and hosts many other fishing events throughout the year and across the state. On Sept. 28, each of the four Commission educationcenters, along with its McKinney Lake Fish Hatchery, will host free outdoor,expo-like events open to the public where fishing will be just one of manywildlife-related activities being offered.

For more information on fishing in North Carolina’s public, inland waters, visit the fishing page or call the Division of Inland Fisheries, 919-707-0220.